Windows: cipher.exe Overwrites Deleted Data Using /w

ATT&CK techniques

Impact

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
- T1485Data Destruction

What it detects

This rule identifies Windows process executions of cipher.exe where the command line includes the /w: option, indicating overwriting of deleted data on disk. Attackers may use this to hinder recovery and disrupt availability by destroying data locally or across reachable storage. It relies on process creation telemetry, matching the process image name and the presence of the /w: parameter in the command line.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1485 — drag to rearrange

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Malicious Mini Shai-Hulud TanStack Destructive rm Killswitch (via process_creation)

Malicious S3 Object Encryption with Customer Provided Key via CopyObject

Malicious Cloud Storage Destruction by Cloud Build Service Account

Windows: cipher.exe Overwrites Deleted Data Using /w

Pivot detection · T1485 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

windows-cipher-exe-overwrite-deleted-data-using-w-4b046706

title: "Windows: cipher.exe Overwrites Deleted Data Using /w"
id: 24ca22c2-f355-4c8b-b3de-dd2cf69a7064
status: test
description: "This rule identifies Windows process executions of cipher.exe where the command line includes the /w: option, indicating overwriting of deleted data on disk. Attackers may use this to hinder recovery and disrupt availability by destroying data locally or across reachable storage. It relies on process creation telemetry, matching the process image name and the presence of the /w: parameter in the command line."
references:
  - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1485/T1485.md#atomic-test-3---overwrite-deleted-data-on-c-drive
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cipher_overwrite_deleted_data.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-12-26
modified: 2023-02-21
tags:
  - attack.impact
  - attack.t1485
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - OriginalFileName: CIPHER.EXE
    - Image|endswith: \cipher.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains: " /w:"
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_cipher_overwrite_deleted_data/info.yml
simulation:
  - type: atomic-red-team
    name: Overwrite deleted data on C drive
    technique: T1485
    atomic_guid: 321fd25e-0007-417f-adec-33232252be19
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 4b046706-5789-4673-b111-66f25fe99534
    type: derived

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